Starting a business is a huge venture. It’s exciting, daunting, exhausting, and if you do it right – rewarding. Setting up a new office space requires time, effort and organization. Business owners tend to undermine the physical components required to start an office or business, but it’s a critical aspect of starting a business.

Office equipment helps to make your day-to-day operations run smoothly. Investing in the right equipment and accessories can save you a lot of time, effort and money. It can help in organizing internal daily tasks and in efficiently running business operations.

When setting up a new office space – or even when sprucing up an old one – use this list to keep track of your supplies and any equipment you may need.

1. Office Furniture and Accessories

Let’s start with the basics. Office furniture is of course a must, and if you have the budget, it’s good to invest in high quality equipment for your business. Of course, each employee will likely require the following:

Desk: perhaps a stand-up desk or table top.

A filing cabinet or desk drawers to accompany the desk – depending on the design.

An Ergonomic chair: your employees may spend a large portion of their day sitting – and as they say, sitting is the new smoking. Provide your employees with a good quality, ergonomic chair.

Throughout your new office, you’ll need to ensure that each space is well-lit with efficient work lighting based on the tasks your team will be completing in each area.

2. Meeting Space Equipment

Will you be hosting meetings with your clients or potential clients in your office space? Be sure to provide a comfortable client seating area, preferably near the office entrance, as well as a beverage station so they can easily help themselves to coffee, tea or water. A tidy meeting space will surely win over any potential clients and a television is a useful addition to any meeting room.

Whiteboards and markers are another office must-have. They will provide your staff with an environment to collaborate and brainstorm.

3. Computer Accessories and Software

You’ll likely need to furnish the space with desktop computers and monitors, or have your employees provide their own.

Printers, scanner, as well as a router and modem are necessary, unless you plan to hardwire each device to connect to the internet. Computer locks may also be useful for your new business and depending on your industry a camera may also be a requirement.

Word processing software and virus protection is also something that you should think about as it ensures your employee’s devices will be efficient and they won’t run into any situations where they acquire a virus.

4. Communications Equipment

Depending on your industry and roles within your new business, you may need to provide telephones and a fax machine within your new business. If your employees won’t be doing much calling externally, or if your hires are mostly young people who own cellphones, you can also use an app like Grasshopper for client calling via Wi-Fi.

If it’s in your budget, you may also wish to provide your employees with company phones. Of course, this is dependent on your industry and budget.

5. General Office Supplies

A list of supplies that are sometimes overlooked include:

Business cards

Envelopes

Stamps

Stationary

Printer cartridges and paper

Pens and pencils

Cleaning supplies

Notepads

Scissors

Stapler

You should also ensure that your kitchen is fully stocked with coffee, tea, water, as well as small snacks for both your employees and any clients or consultants who may visit your office. The Microfridge is an excellent option for a new office space. Microfridge products include both a microwave and refrigerator, as well as a USB charging station, express cook settings, and programmed cooking options. So, if you’re low on space, this appliance will be the perfect fit for your new office.